Chain



Dec. 31, 1929. A. H. BARROWMAN CHAIN Filed Aug. 11, 1928 f "Inn/11"".fl'fikh BY {7314414 m A TTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 31, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR H. BARROWMAN,OF ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO J. M. FISHER COMPANY, OFATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND CHAINApplication filed August 11, 1928. Serial No. 298,967.

This invention relates to a chain of the type which may be used as abracelet and the like; and has for its object to provide link units ofsimple and inexpensive construction which may be made of a minimumnumber of parts and be detachably secured together so that the length ofthe chain may be changed at will by removing a unit or adding a unitthereto.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a chain formed ofa series of link units, each unit being'formed of sheet stock and soshaped that it may be detachably and hingedly connected to the nextunit, with resilient means to prevent accidental detachment, which maybe flexed under suitable pressure to permit detachment of the llnks onefrom the other. V

With these and other objects in view,the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction, as will be more fully described, andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a top view of the chainconstruction. 7

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 illustrates a blank cut fromsheet stock from which the link unit is formed.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the resilient closure member for preventingdetachment of the link when in normal position.

Fig. 5 is a sectional side view of several links assembled.

Fig. 6 is a sectional top View of the palr of links assembled.

Fig. 7 is a bottom view of a pair of links assembled.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view illustrating the manner of flexing theclosure member for the slot in the initial step of detaching the unitsone from another.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing the projection on one of thelinks moved to a position between the closure member and the bottom wallas a further step in detaching the links one from another.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Figs. 8 and 9 showing the links as twistedat right angles to each other with the projection between the closuremember in position to readily detach one link from another.

In the use of chains of the type to be Worn about the wrist for personaladornment or the like, and for securing wrist watches upon the arm ofthe wearer, it is found of advantage to provide a construction by whicheach of the link units may be detached one from the other, which I haveaccomplished by cutting a link from sheet stock and folding it uponitself with a slot at the fold and projections on the ends of the blankwhich may be inserted thru the slot to engage the fold at either side ofthe slot to hingedly join the links together andI have secured aflexible closure member in the form of a leaf of resilient material topartially close this slot and prevent detachment of the links one fromanother, this closure member being flexed by pressure of a pin or somesmall pointed instrument to permit the projection to be moved betweenthe closure and the wall of the link for detachment of one link fromanother; and the following is a detailed description of the presentembodiment of this invention and illustrating the preferred means bywhich these advantageous results may be accomplished Y Nith reference tothe drawings, 10 designates a blank cutout from sheet stock from whicheach of the links is formed by folding the blank upon itself, asillustrated in Figs. 2 and 5, to form top walls 11 and bottom walls 12in spaced relation to each other.

A slot 13 is cut out at the fold and extends along the botom wall as at14, while the opposite end of the bod link has projections 15 and 16extending rom its top and bottom walls which are each offset towardseach other as at 17 and broughttogether in contracting relation asindicated in Fig. 5. These projections are formed in T-shape andinserted thru the slot 13with the trunnion portions 18 and 19 of the Tengaging the fold at each side of the slot of the next body link to forma hinge connection therewith.

' In order that the links may not be inadvertently separated and to addto the ornamental appearance of the device as a whole, the slot 14 whichextends along the bottom wall is closed by a member 20 which is of y doresilient sheet stock and is secured to the bottom wall by inwardlystruck portions 21 extending thru suitable openings 22 and folded overthe surface of the member 20, as illustrated in Fig. 5, by which one endof the member is firmly held in contact with the bottom wall while itsopposite free end 23 is permitted to flex inwardly by pressure of a pinor sharp instrument 24, as illustrated in Fig. 8, to permit theprojection on the end of the next body link to be moved beneath thisclosure, as illustrated in Fig. 9, with the links in substantially rightangular position.

After this closure is flexed upwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 9, and theprojection moved beneath it, the links are given a twisting movement onerelative to the other into the position illustrated in Fig. 10, fromwhich it will be clear that the links may be readily separated one fromanother for detaching purposes. It will be understood that a reverseoperation will attach the links one to another for joining them inconnected series.

Each of the top and bottom Walls is provided with ornamental flanges 25scalloped as at 26, which extend toward each other to close the openingbetween the top and bottom walls and form side walls to give a box-likeap pearance to each of the link units of the chain.

Each of the units is made of the minimum number of parts to accomplishthe results here set forth of detachably connecting the parts one toanother and to provide a resilient closure which may be of tempered orof metal stiffer than the body of the links, which may be of ornamentalmetal or carry any desired embellishment such as engraving, enameling,piercing or the like.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the constructionillustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve theprivilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the deviceis susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by theterms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A chain comprising a series of connected links, each comprising abody with a functionally rigid projection on one end and a recess on theother end to receive the projection of the next link by suitable manualmanipulation to deta'chably connect adjacent links together, and aflexible member secured to said body and positioned to partially closesaid recess to prevent detachment of the links, said member yieldingunder suitable manipulation to permit withdrawal of said projection fromsaid recess.

2. A chain comprising a series of connected links, each comprising abody folded to form spaced walls with a slot at its folded end extendinglongitudinally of the body along one of said walls, a projection on theother end of the link of a shape and size to be passed thru the slot ofthe next link and engage the tion on each of said walls, both of the T-shaped projections contacting and insertable thru the slot of the nextlink to engage the told at each side of the slot for hinging action, anda resilient member secured to said bottom wall and partially closingsaid slot to prevent detachment of the projection therefrom but yieldingupon pressure thru said slot to permit detachment of the projection bysuitable manipulation.

4. A chain comprising a series of connected links, each comprising abody with a rigid T-shaped projection on one end and a recess at theother. end for removably receiving the T-shaped projection of theadjacent link to hingedly connect said adjacent links together, andmeans for releasably locking said T-shaped projections in said recesses.

5. A chain comprising a series of connected links, each comprising abody with a projection having an enlarged head at one end and a recessat the other end for receiving the enlarged head of the adjacent link tohingedly connect said adjacent links together, and means for releasablylocking said enlarged heads in said recesses.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ARTHUR H. BARROWMAN.

